Samuel h



(No 1191131.) H HAAS" ROWLOGK. f 110,294,993. 133161161111@11,1884.

'i UNITED STATES v PATENT Fries..

SAMUEL II. HAAS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS., ASSIGNOR TO CHAItLES lI. XVRIGHT.

ROWLOCK,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters :PatentA No. 294,993, dated March 11, 1884.

l Application filed August 10, 1883. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, SAML. H. Haas, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rowlocks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to'whiehit pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

lVIy invention relates to an improvement in rowlocks; and it consists, first, in the combination of a rowlock which is open at its top, with a suitable spring-snap which extends inward a suitable distance over the center of the rowlock, and which spring-snap catches over the top of the oar, so as to prevent it from accidentally leaving the rowlock; second, in the combination of a rowlock provided with a suitable stud or projection with a slotted plate, in which the stud or projection catches for the purpose of preventing the rowlock from turning beyond a certain point in its bearing, as will be more fully described hereinafter. The object of my invention is to provide a rowlock 'which is provided with a suitable means for keeping the oarin the rowlock while in use, and which rowlock is provided with suitable means for preventing it from turning in its bearing beyond a certain point, so as to keep the handle of the spring snap or catch always in that position where it is most convenient for the oarsman to operate it.

Figure l represents a side elevation of a rowlock embodying my `invention, the bearing-plate being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a vplan view, partly in section, of the bearingplate alone. modification.

A represents the rowlock, which will be made of any shape, form, or size that may be preferred. Upon the bottoni of this rowlock will be formed the usual stud or projection, B, for passing down through the bearing-plate C, which is secured to the gunwale of the boat, and which stud or projection serves as the pivot upon which the rowlock turns in the usual manner. In the inner side of the plate C,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a through which the stud or projection passes, is made a vertical slot, D, and the horizontal slot E. The vertical slot D is quite short, and connects at its lower end with the horizontal slot E,whichwill be of a length proportionate to the distance the rowlock shall turn in its bearing. Instead of this vertical slot connecting directly withthe horizontal slot, as shown, the slot D may extend at asuitable angle, and

vmay be bent or curved any suitable number of times, so as to prevent the rowlock from becoming too easily detached from its bearing. Upon the side of the stud or projection, at any suitable point, is cast or otherwise formed a small projection or pin, G, which is intended to catch in the horizontal slot and act as a stop to prevent the rowlock from turning beyond a certain point.

Secured to one of the prongs of the rowlock, but preferably to that one which is intended to be toward the bow of the boat, is a suitable i spring snap or catch, I, which projects downward over the opening in the rowlock, so as to catch over the top'of the oar. This spring snap or catch will sink' out of the way from the Weight of the oar, and as soon as the oar y has dropped down past it into the rowlock, it will instantly snap out again into position, as,

shown in solid lines in Fig. 1. The spring byv which this snap is operated will be preferably a coiled one, which will be attached to the pivotal rod or bar upon whichthe snap catches. The lower end or prong of this'snap or catch will pass outward through an opening in the side of the rowlock, and this end or prong will be provided with a ring, enlargement,bend, or any suitable means for enabling the end of the catch to be readily grasped by the hand for the purpose of pulling the spring-snap in toward the side of the rowlock when it is desi-red to remove the oar. As the oarsman is nearly always sitting with his back toward the bow of the boat, it is desirable to have the l handle or projecting end of this spring-snap secured in such aposition that it can be instantly operated at any moment, and especially if the oarsman wishes to quickly remove the oar. It is for the purpose of keeping this handle toward the oarsnian that the slot and stop are provided. This slot and stop allow the rowlock to turn as far as may be found desirable to turn with the oar but no farther, and thus prevent this handle or projecting end of the IOO catch from ever getting in that position where it cannot be readily reached by the oarsnian.

In case it should be so desired, instead of a single spring snap or catch, like what is here shown and described, there may be a small spring-catch attached to each prong of the rowlock, as shown in Fig. 3, and then these two snaps or catches will be connected together by a suitable mechanism, so that a single pull will draw them both outward, so as to allow the oar to be removed. I do not limit myself to any precise means of operating either a single or a double catch, Vlor this is something that may be varied at will without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I am aware that harness-tugs have heretofore been used, in which a spring-snap is used to close the top of the tug, and this I disclaim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination ol' a rowlock with the spring-eatch I, which is pivoted to one of the prongs ofthe rowlock, and which eatch extends downward into the rowlock, so as to engage with the top of thc oar and prevent it from having any vertical play in the rowlock, the spring-snap being provided with a suitable handle for drawing the catch back out of position, substantially as shown.

2. The combination of a rowloek with the spring-catch I, which extends downward into the rowlock, so as to engage with the top of the oar and prevent it from having any vertical play, the shanl; B of the rowloek being provided with suitable means for preventing the rowlocl; from turning into such a position that the handle of the spring-catcl-i cannot be readily taken hold of to release the oar, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof l. aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL H. MAAS.

Vi tn esses:

F. A. LEHMANN, A. S. lfvr'rrsox. 

